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BJP to intensify protest 
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
 Claiming that the Bharat bandh had evoked a good response and people had wholeheartedly supported the shutdown, BJP national secretary Shyam Jhaju announced that the party would intensify its campaign against the UPA Government on the issue of the FDI in the retail sector. 
 
Jailbreak leaves police red-faced, lax security to blame 
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
 The incident of three hardcore criminals escaping from the Central Jail here last night by making a human ladder has left the police red-faced. Though they were nabbed from the Dhandari area this evening, questions are being raised on the security arrangements in the jail. 
 
Murder accused flees from police station
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
        Three policemen have been suspended for dereliction of duty after a contract killer, who was nabbed along with his brother and a close aide for allegedly killing six persons for money, escaped from the Jodhewal police station today. 
 
Respite to SAD, Mayor to be elected by show of hands 
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
 
 Things are going the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) way. The new Mayor of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation will be elected by show of hands and not through secret ballot. 
 
 
 
 
SAD Mayoral candidate Pal Singh Grewal (centre) along with other party leaders after attending a meeting in Ludhiana on Thursday. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan  
Congress holds closed-door meeting with Independents 
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
        On the eve of the Mayoral election and oath-taking ceremony of the municipal councillors, the Congress held a closed-door meeting with independent councillors at Ludhiana (Central) MLA Surinder Dawar’s house, here this evening.
              
              
              
           
 
           
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
           
 
 
           
          
        
          
Bandh remains peaceful in city and periphery
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
 
        Except stray incidents of rowdyism reported from the Dal Bazar and elsewhere, the city witnessed a peaceful bandh here today.
The bandh was called by the opposition parties against the hike in the diesel prices and restriction on subsidised LPG cylinders as well as the approval for FDI in the retail sector. 
 
 
Policemen search bags of passengers at the railway station in Ludhiana on Thursday. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan 
Low attendance in schools and offices
 
The nationwide bandh call given by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and other opposition parties received mixed response in the town and surrounding localities. 
 
Low patient turnout in hospital OPDs 
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
        The number of patients visiting the out patient department (OPD) of hospitals witnessed a huge dip, especially in rural areas following the Bharat bandh.  
 
Markets wear deserted look
 
Jagraon, September 20
 
        The bandh call evoked a mixed response in Jagraon and surrounding areas today. The day passed peacefully in the area. 
 
Overwhelming response in Sahnewal
 
Sahnewal/Doraha, September 20
 
        Sahnewal town showed full support to the bandh call. The town wore a deserted look as all the shops, including electronics, hardware, confectionary, and general stores, were closed in support of the bandh call. The general public too joined the protest by staying at their homes throughout the day.
 
Buses, trucks remain off road
 
Phillaur, September 20
 
        Very few buses with a minimal occupancy were seen plying on the roads in Phillaur and surrounding areas, including Goraya, Bilga, Apra, Phagwara, Noormahal and Nakodar, due to the bandh called today.
 
Challaning drive puts off officials
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
        The challaning and towing-away drive initiated by the traffic police at the Mini Secretariat has not gone down well with the officials as they feel that the officials should issue warnings before taking action. 
  
Vehicles parked haphazardly at the Mini-Secretariat in Ludhiana. Tribune Photo: Himanshu Mahajan 
Dengue larvae found
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
        Although no fresh confirmed case of dengue was reported in the city today, teams of the anti-larva wing detected dengue larvae at seven places, including Dayanand Medical College and Hospital and Dental College of Christian Medical College and Hospital, today and yesterday.
 
Experts to dwell on latest farm practices 
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
 
        Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Minister of Punjab Public Works Department (PWD), will inaugurate the Kisan Mela on Friday. Gurbachan Singh
Babehali, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Agriculture) of Punjab, will be the guest of honour while Dr Baldev Singh
Dhillon, PAU Vice-Chancellor, will preside over the inaugural session. On September 22, Dr RP
Dua, assistant director-general (FFC), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), will be the chief guest. 
 
Arrangements on for the Kisan Mela at Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana.  
tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan 
Pashu Palan Mela to be a big draw
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
        Pashu Palan Mela of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) will prove beneficial for poultry farmers, senior citizens and youngsters.
 
Fake devouring original in city
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
        People sporting clothes bearing the logos of brands of international and national repute are ubiquitous in the city. 
 
City has seen four Mayors So far
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
 
        Ever since the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation came into existence, the city has seen four Mayors. The BJP has managed to have its party Mayor just for one term, the Akali Dal twice and the Congress once. 
 
 
A view of the committee room in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation's Zone-A office that has been cleaned ahead of the oath-taking ceremony and the mayoral election to be held on Friday. Photo: Inderjeet Verma 
 
           
            
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                Former Mayors  (1)
                Satya Prakash, BJP,  from June 12, 1991 to June 11, 1996 (2) Apinder Singh Grewal, Shiromani Akali Dal, June 6, 1997 to June 5, 2002
                (3) Nahar Singh Gill, Congress,  from June 19, 2002, to June 18, 2007
                (4) Hakam Singh Giaspura, Shiromani Akali Dal, from September 7, 2007, to September 6, 2012, 
                and  
                 (5) Powerful contender Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, SAD councillor, Ward Number 70
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SAD organises lunch meeting
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
 
        With just 24 hours left for the mayoral election, the wait seems to have finally got over. The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) today organised a lunch meeting for its councillors and senior leaders. This meeting was chaired by Cabinet Minister and observer for the Ludhiana mayoral election, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, and other senior party leaders. 
 
Janmeja Singh Sekhon (third from right), Cabinet Minister and observer for the Mayoral election, addresses SAD councillors and leaders during a meeting in Ludhiana on Thursday.
Tribune Photo Himanshu Mahajan 
Ludhiana ranks first on the list of absentee doctors
 
Ludhiana September 20
 
 Ludhiana ranks first in the list of absentee doctors of the Health Department. As many as 18 Medical Officers and Senior Medical Officers have been absent from duty.
 
Fraud accused get bail
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
        The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Kamaljit Singh Lamba today granted anticipatory bail to Prem Nath Gupta, secretary of Dayanand Medical College & Hospital committee, and Balbir Singh, medical superintendent, in an alleged case of cheating. 
 
         
        
          
Another accused held
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
        The police today arrested Gurpreet Singh, alias Goi, a close aide of
Rahul, who posed as one of the snatchers and fled with the bag containing Rs 18 lakh in cash from Feroze Gandhi Market on Monday. Davinder was arrested yesterday. 
 
 
        
          
Ludhiana, Gurdaspur eves advance into semis
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
        Ludhiana district registered 4-0 win against Moga district to join Gurdaspur district, Ropar, and Jalandhar districts in the semifinal of the 6th Senior Punjab State Baseball Championship for Women being held at Shahi Sports College, Samrala nere here today.
 
BVM lads begin campaign on sound note
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
 
        Hosts Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Kitchlu Nagar branch, began their campaign on a positive note with an authentic 4-0 victory over St Thomas Senior Secondary School, Brown Road, in the inaugural match of the Inter-School Zonal Football Tournament for boys U-14
(PAU Zone).It is being organised by the district education department at BVM, Kitchlu
Nagar, here, today. 
Players in action during the Inter-School Zonal Football Tournament (boys U-19) in Ludhiana on Thursday.
Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan 
College of Agriculture win by 79 runs in cricket tourney
 
Ludhiana, September 20
 
        The College of Agriculture (COA) XI defeated the College of Basic Sciences and Humanities (COBS&H) XI by 79 runs in the first match of the Punjab Agricultural University Inter-College Cricket Tournament for the session 2012-13 that got off at the PAU ground here today.
           
         
        
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